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Explore With Cassie

Lifestyle & travel blog finding the unusual out of the ordinary.

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  • Day Trips,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Supporting Small Businesses at Pecan and Wine Festival in Camp Verde, Arizona

    May 12, 2025 /

      Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I come from a family of entrepreneurs who owned small businesses. My grandfather Hepler owned his own carpentry company and my father started Hepler Geothermal heat pumps and air conditioning in central Pennsylvania before being green was considered cool. My brother now runs it and is slaying – without any advertising needed. My grandmother on one side was a nurse and the other was working for a bit as a paralegal, without the formal education. We’re natural born hustlers and even my niece when she was in elementary school started a side hustle selling slime! Pecan And Wine Festival So supporting small…

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    Cassie Hepler

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  • Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Dramatic Fine Dining at Elvira’s DC Ranch in North Scottsdale

    May 5, 2025 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Family owned since 1927, Elvira’s has been a staple in Tubac, Arizona located 30 minutes south of Tucson which is a long hike for even the most eccentric foodie from Phoenix!  Now open in DC Ranch Scottsdale, Chef Ruben Monroy takes the lead as the grandson of the original founder, keeping this family-run fine dining establishment running like a smooth sailing ship. Master Sommelier Thomas Kaufman is in charge of the beverage program and even with some mocktails, we were impressed with the taste. Opened in January of 2025, it features signature dishes from the Tubac menu, including its iconic Chile en Nogada.…

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    Watch Out for Altitude Sickness in Sparkling South Lake Tahoe, Nevada

    May 15, 2019
  • Day Trips,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Huge American Sized Portions at Red White & Brew in Prescott, Arizona

    April 28, 2025 /

    Story, videos and photos by Cassie Hepler You’ve heard of glimmers by now I hope? If not, they are those giddy moments in life that give you joy and happiness. Well, there’s also what I call bread crumbs from the universe that make sure you’re on the right path. And I followed mine all the way to Prescott, Arizona because of Red, White and Brew restaurant! They reached out via email with a holiday special and I noticed there was a location in Mesa, Arizona and one in downtown Prescott. I had been trying to plan a Northern Arizona snow angle story for months but the weather was not cooperating…

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  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Prescott Pines Inn Gets Makeover, Adds Vino Prescott Wine Bar to Northern Arizona

    April 21, 2025 /

     Hotels in Prescott, Arizona Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Check out the new and improved Prescott Pines Inn! Nick and Sara Medina from Medina Hospitality purchased Prescott Pines Inn in February 2022, formerly a traditional B&B. After upgrades and updates on the 11 rooms and property, the duo has transitioned it from bed and breakfast to a hotel and Vino Prescott wine bar in July 2023. Now it’s all complete and a total pine tree experience with a peaceful stream flowing behind it! This was before the snowfall came and I had a couple of snow days so keep that in mind in the winter months. The 11…

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    Saint Benjamin Brewery Offers Craft Beer with a Side of History

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    October 11, 2021
  • Destinations,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Corduroy Lodge Offers Cabins, Airstreams and Motel in Pinetop Lakeside, Arizona

    April 14, 2025 /

    Where to Stay in Pinetop-Lakeside Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler I stumbled upon Corduroy Lodge years ago when I booked a random night in-between blogging adventures in Pinetop-Lakeside and honestly just loved the vibe! So I kept in touch and we kept hoping for snow but it didn’t seem like Northern Arizona wanted to this year so I just booked random dates. Well… I got what I wished for! But fortunately the tail end of the snow as my Honda Civic is not the best low-to-the-ground car for icy roads. I wish I could tell my younger self to buy something more rugged but I was thinking fast…

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    Explore Cozumel, Mexico by Jeep and Snorkel

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    Hurricane Irma Displaces Single Dad, Daughter to New Jersey

    September 25, 2017

    Gertrude’s Fine Dining Tickles Tastebuds in Breathtaking Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona

    October 30, 2019
  • Day Trips,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News

    Four Seasons Scottsdale Hosts The Lost Explorer Mezcal & Tequila Launch in Arizona

    April 7, 2025 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler If there was ever another fitting name for me, I think it would be The Lost Explorer. Because no matter how much you plan a trip, it never goes according to your plans and I find the road less traveled is always the best way to go. So when this company reached out to me to attend a day at the Four Seasons Scottsdale, I was all in. I try not to and honestly don’t have time to deep dive into a brand before saying yes to events most of the time. Part of exploring for me is showing up and asking my…

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    Tropicana’s Chelsea Tower Brings Atlantic City, New Jersey Good Luxe

    December 5, 2018
  • Day Trips,  Destinations,  Education,  Explore with Cassie,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Explore the Buttercup Valley, Imperial Sand Dunes in Yuma, Arizona

    March 10, 2025 /

    Story, video by Cassie Hepler, Photos by Brian Delfin Before I even had the idea of moving to Arizona and was a sparkle in my father’s eye, my mother lived in Yuma, Arizona with one of her Pennsylvania friends who moved with her, Judy. She was full on bohemian hippy with her VW yellow bug and adventurous spirit which I have inherited at least half of… My uncle on her side liked to say that I got the traveling bug from Uncle Jesse who would hop trains and then hustle around the country. And because mothers and grandmothers literally carry the eggs of their children and grandchildren, in essence I…

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  • Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Explore with Cassie Celebrates 10 Years of Lifestyle & Travel Blogging at Chateau Luxe

    March 3, 2025 /

    Story, videos by Cassie Hepler, Photography by Brian Delfin It’s the 10 year blogaversary Great Gastby party that almost wasn’t! And I couldn’t tell anyone until afterwards because it would have freaked people out. I’ve learned the hard way through the years that you cannot spook the guest list with an oversold status or the other way, an event that may not happen. So I kept it to myself… until now. Over the winter while I was busy writing up a freelance storm and planning for my father to visit, Chateau Luxe had closed its beloved Wander Speakeasy and changed the business model to a private event space. It still…

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    Philadelphia Flower Show’s The Garden Electric Shines at Pennsylvania Convention Center

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  • Day Trips,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Hondo Rodeo Fest Debuts in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona

    January 27, 2025 /

    By Sylvia Lenore, submitted photos Yee-haw! The inaugural Hondo Rodeo Fest made its debut in Phoenix in November bringing a mix of Western rodeo and country music to Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix. Yes, you read that right … they brought a rodeo arena inside the baseball stadium, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Don’t forget the stadium’s bag policies for a stress-free experience). The three-day event running from Thursday to Saturday was a first of its kind indeed. The Hondo also took over the streets outside the stadium for the general public to experience their Stillery Street Festival. It’s a family-friendly market showcasing Western-themed wears and jewelry, food trucks, a…

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    Sleep in a Glamping Dome at Tirrito Farm in WillCox, Arizona

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  • Destinations,  Education,  Entertainment,  Explore with Cassie,  Food & Beverage,  Latest News,  Lifestyle

    Enjoy a Desert Oasis and Waterfall at Revamped Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona

    December 9, 2024 /

    Story, photos and video by Cassie Hepler Ever since I moved to Arizona almost seven years ago (!) as of January 2025, I have heard people in the valley refer to Tucson, Arizona as “The Dirty T”. I honestly had no clue why and as far as stereotypes go, you learn more along the way of life like the fact that the West Valley of Phoenix is “bad” which honestly reeks of racism but that’s a story for another time. But seriously, each time I would go down to visit Tucson and try to see it through rose-colored glasses, something really weird would happen that would eject me back to Phoenix.…

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 Older Posts

Recent Posts

  • Supporting Small Businesses at Pecan and Wine Festival in Camp Verde, Arizona
  • Dramatic Fine Dining at Elvira’s DC Ranch in North Scottsdale
  • Huge American Sized Portions at Red White & Brew in Prescott, Arizona
  • Prescott Pines Inn Gets Makeover, Adds Vino Prescott Wine Bar to Northern Arizona
  • Corduroy Lodge Offers Cabins, Airstreams and Motel in Pinetop Lakeside, Arizona

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